Valve device



,Feb 5, 1952 J. G. DONALDSON VALVE DEVICE Filed April 15, 194e Patented Feb. 5, 1952 VALVE DEVICE J-osep'hnG. Donaldson, Los Angeles, Calif., :assignor of one-half to A. S. `,Van DenburghLosAn goles, Calif.

Application April 15, 1946, serial No. 662,312

10 Claims. Y '.1 This invention `relates to valve devices and is particularly ydirected to a `fluid valve having a novel form. of suction breaker Vincorporated therein. f

"The principal object of this invention is lto provide -avalve assembly having novel means for preventing reverse flow through the valve. Another object is to provide a diversion valve for Water or other-'liquid having a hollow stem vthrough which such liquid is introduced and having a suction breaker means associated with the upper 'end of such hollow stem.

fAnother object is to provide a valve .of this type Ahaving a movable valve element provided :with axially spaced sealing surfaces and -a hollow 4valve :stem for actuating the movable element,

Other objects and advantages will appear i hereinafter. Figure 1 Ais a side elevation partly in section showing .the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view takensubstantiallyfon thelinefZ-Z asshown in Figure 1. Figure 3 isa sectional plan view of a valve assernbly simi'lar'to that'shown 11n/Figure l, but

incorporatinga'modiiied--form of valve element.

Figure 4 isa sectional-planview taken -substantially on the line 4 4 as shown inFigure 3.

Figure Eis a'se'ctiona'l plan view taken substantially on the line 5-5 as shownin'Figure'3.

`Referri-ng to the drawings, a valve housing I extends within-the walls I! of a fluid container generally designated l2. The housing ID is provided With-a centralvalve chamber I3 in vwhich a V`movable valve element I4 is positioned. The valve element I4 is bonded to the lower Yend of tubular stem I having la central passageway vHi extending therethrough. The valve element i4, asshown in Figure. 1, is provided Withan upper conical sealing surface I1 -and ia--lower plane sealing surface ,t8 axially'spacedtherefrom. vThe surface i7 is adaptedto engage'the la gsimilarpnortin -.extendingftlirough'the :wall l.of

2 the hollow stem I5, thereby establishing communication between the valve chamber I3 -and the passageway I6 within the stem I5. The

sealing surface I8 is adapted to 'engage the lower end 23 of the chamber I3 to 'form a seal, and it will be apparent that in such lower position'the surface i8 prevents dischargeof fluid out-Wardthat the valve element Illavhas a lower conicalk sealing surface IB'and engages a conical surface 23a at the lower end of the chamber I3. When the surfaces lteand 23a are in sealing engagenient, the outlet 24a is lblocked and, hence, dis- V charge throughsuch outlet is prevented.

v The hollow stem I5 is provided witha helical threaded section 25l on its vouter surface andthe vhelical groove 2s provided by this section is engaged by the stationary pin 21 mounted within the sleeve 20. A result of this construction 11s that when the stem I5 is turned, the cooperative engagement between the pin 21 and groove,26 results in axially moving the stem I5 relative to the housing Il) and sleeve 20.

A glandV nut 28 is threadedly connected to the upper end of ,the sleeve and serves to coinpress a packing ring V2 9 to prevent' leakageat the point where the stem I5 passes through the nut 28. The valve handlell, of anyconvenient `form, is connected to,the projectingr endof the hollow stem l5 by any convenient means, such as threads 3| and set Vscrew 32. The Vhandle 30 is preferably formed as a substantially hollow bonnet 33 having va depending Ycylindrical Yskirt 34. Two or more ribs 35 connect the-hub portion '36 of the handle with the bonnet skirt .34. `A valvel disc 3l is .mounted within the recess 38 a pair of upwardly extending guides 39 which are slidably received within .the bore of the handle.

Means are provided for introducing fluid under pressure into the recess il'within the handle 30 and, as yshown in the drawings, this means includes the `substantially upstanding tube .4l which extends axially through the central Dassaecivay I6 within the stem l5. The lower end of the tuberi! is threadedly secured at 42 within the valve housing I0and is in communication kwith the lateral inlets 4 3 and 4Q by way of the The upper end of the ltube .the -upper end of the hollow central opening 45. .lll extends beyond .stemi 5.

Encircling the sleeve 2B is the hub section 46 provided on a swing spout 41. The outlet 48 in the swing spout communicates with the annular space 49 within the sleeve 20 by way of lateral ports 50 formed through the wall of the sleeve 20. Spaced packing means and 52 are provided for sealing the joint between the sleeve and the swingV spout hub 46 against leakage and a gland ring 53 is threadedly connected to the sleeve 20 for-compressing both packing rings 5I and 52.

In operation, fluid under pressure may be admitted through inlet pipes 43 and 44. The control valves for such inlet pipes are not shown.4` Such fluid under pressure, for example, water, is

admitted into the lower end of the tube 4| through the opening 45. Pressure of the water within the recess 38 raises the valve disc 31 into contact with the annular seat 54 encircling the lower end of the bore within the handle 30. Leakage 4of water outwardly through the space under the Ibonnet 33 of the handle 30 is there# by prevented and the water is forced down the annulus or passageway I6 within the hollow stem l5 exteriorly of the central tube 4|.

If the valve element I4a is in the position illustrated in Figure 3, the water flowing downwardly through the passageway I6 passes outwardly through the lateral portsv 2|, 22 into the valve chamber I3 within the valve housing I0. Since the port 24a is closed off and since the sealing surfaces I1 and I9 are axially separated, the water flows upwardly into the space 49 within the sleeve 23 and thus outwardly through the ports 50 into the outlet 48 in the swing spout 4-1. ;If the handle 30 is turned to raise the hollow stem I5 by reason of the interengaging pin 21 and helix groove 26, the sealing surface I1 will be brought into sealing contact with the conical `seat I9 at the lower end of the sleeve 20. Such upward movement of the valve element I4a moves the surfaces I8ab and 23a out of engagement with the result that water within the valve chamber i is diverted downwardly through the outlet Similarly, in the valve construction illustrated in Figure 1, water within the passageway I6 Vpasses outwardly through the ports 2|, 22 into the chamber I3 and is directed into the space 49 leading to the swing spout, or is directed down-` wardly through the outlet 24 depending on whether thesurfaces I1 and I9 are in sealing engagement or whether the surfaces I8 and 2 3 are in sealing engagement.

In the event that a suction should occur within the inlet 45, pressure in the recess 34 would immediately fallbelow atmospheric pressure with the result that the valve disc 31 would be forced downwardly by air pressure into sealing en-f gagement with the upper end of the central stationary tube 4I. Continuing suction in the inlet 45 therefor does not Siphon water in a reverse `direction through the outlets 48 and 24a, but on the contrary, the passageway It is immediately subjected to atmospheric pressure only by the separation of the valve disc 31 from the seat 54. Even if the sealing contact between the disc 31 and the upper end of the tube 4I is not perfect, the continuing suction within the tube 4I will not Siphon water from the passageway I6, but instead will draw air in through the hollow handle 30. The water supply mains are, therefore, protected against iniiux of foreign matter in the event that back flow conditions should occur.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited ment adapted to contact said seat to form a seal,

actuating means for moving the valve element with respect to said seat comprising an upwardly extending valve member having a longitudinal passageway therein, means for establishing communcation between the longitudinal passageway and the valve chamber, means for introducing fluid into theY upper end of the longitudinal passage including a relatively stationary inlet tube within the passage, a port leading to atmosphere from a location near the upper end of said member, the upper end of the tube being below the port, walls forming a recess connecting the tube and the port, an auxiliary valve mounted for vertical movement within the recess actuated by pressure of fluid within the inlet tube normally adapted to vclose the port, said auxiliary valve being adapted to open the port to establish com munication from the inlet tube to atmosphere through the port upon failure of pressure of the fluid, and means for introducing uid into the lower end of the inlet tube.

2. A valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet communicating with a valve chamber, a valve seat therein, a movable valve element adapted to contact said seat to form a seal. actuating means for moving the valve` element with respect to said seat comprising an upwardly extending valve member having a longitudinal passageway therein, means for establishing communication between the longitudinal passageway and the valve chamber, means for introducing fluid into the upper end of the longitudinal passage including a relatively stationary inlet tube within the passage, a port leading to atmosphere from a location near the upper end of said member, an auxiliary valve actuated by pressure of fluid within the inlet tube adapted to close the port, said auxiliary valve being adapted to seat on the upper end of said'inlet tube to prevent reverse flow therethrough upon failure of pressure of the fluid, and means for introducing fluid into the lower end of the inlet tube.

' 3. A diversion valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a rst and second outlet, the combination of a valve chamber having spaced valve seats therein, a mova'ble valve element adapted to contact either of said'seats to form a seal, passage means cooperating with said spaced valve seats whereby Sealing contact of the valve element with either of said seats acts to prevent discharge of fluid through a corresponding outlet, actuating means for moving the valve elementr from one seat to the other comprising an upwardly extending valve member having a longitudinal passageway therein, means for establishing communication between the longitudinal passageway and the valve chamber at a location between said spaced valve seats, means for introducing fluid into the upper end of the longitudinal passage including a relatively stationary inlet tube within the passage, a port leading to atmosphere from a location near the upper endof said member, an auxiliary valve actuated by pressure of fluid within the inlet tube adapted to close the port, said auxiliary valve being adapted tov seat on the upper end of said inlet tube to prevent reverse fiow 'therethrough upon failure of pressure of the fluid, and means for introducing fluid'into the lower end of the inlet tube.

4. A diversion valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a rst and second outlet, the combination of a'valve chamber having spaced valve seats therein, amovable valve element adapted to contact either of said seats to forma seal, passage means cooperating with said spaced valve seats whereby sealing contact of vthe valve element with either of said seats acts to prevent discharge of uid through a corresponding outlet, actuating means for moving the valve element from one seat to the other comprising an upwardly extending valve member having a longitudinal passageway therein, means for establishying communication between the longitudinal passageway and the valve chamber at a location between said spaced valve seats, means for introducing fluid into the upper end of the longi- Y tudinal passage including a relatively stationary inlet tube within the passage, a port leading'to atmosphere from a location near the upper end of said member, the upper end of the tube being below the port, walls forming a. recess connecting the tube and the port, an auxiliary valve mounted for vertical movement within the recess actuated bypressure of iluid within the inlet tube Vnormally adapted to close the port, said auxiliary valve being adapted to open the port to establish communication from the inlet tube to atmosphere through the port upon failure of pressure of the fluid, and means for introducing fluid into the lower end of the inlet tube. Y

5. A valve assembly having a Afluid inlet and fluid outlet communicating with a valve chamber, a movable element within said chamber selectively operable to prevent flow through-the fluid outlet, actuating means for moving said element in the valve chamber comprising a longitudinally extending stem having a passageway therein, means for establishing communication between vthe longitudinal passageway and the valve chamber, means at the upper end of the stern whereby the stem may be manually operated, said means including a port establishing communication from the passageway to the atmosphere, means for introducing uid into the passageway at a point adjacent to said manually operated means, including a relatively stationary inlet tube positioned within the passage, an auxiliary -valve actuated by pressure of fluid within the inlet tube normally adapted to close the port, said auxiliary valve being adapted to open the port and to seat on the end of said inlet tube adjacent said manually operated means to prevent reverse flow through the tube upon failure of pressure of the fluid, and means for introducing uid into the lower endofl the inlet tube.

6. In a valve assembly, the combination of a valve housing having a chamber therein, a fluid outlet leading from said chamber, a movable valve element in the chamber selectively operable to prevent discharge of fluid through said y outlet, a valve stem secured to said valve element and projecting from said housing, a valve handle on the projecting end of said stem, a passageway extending longitudinally of the valve stem, means establishing communication between said valve chamber and said passageway, port means in the valve handle establishing communication between atmosphere and said passageway, pressure operated valve means associated with the handle normally adapted to prevent uid discharge through said port means, means for introducing fluid underpressure into the upper end of said passageway including a stationary tube secured relative to the housing and positioned within the passageway, said pressure operated valve means being adapted to seat on the upper end of said inlet tube to prevent reverse now therethrough upon failure of fluid pressure therein.

7. A movable element for a valve assembly comprising a hollow stem, a valve element secured to the lower end of the stem, a valve handle removably secured to the upper end of the stem, port means in the handle communicating with the atmosphere and the interior of the stem, and a pressure responsive auxiliary valve positioned in the handle normally acting to block said port means.

8. A movable element for a valve assembly comprising a hollow stem, a valve element having axially spaced sealing surfaces and secured to the lower end of the stem and a lateral opening through the valve element between said sealing surfaces communicating with the interior of the stem, a valve handle removably secured to the upper end of the stem, port means in the handle communicating with the atmosphere and the interior 'of the stem. and a pressure responsive auxiliary valve positioned in the handle normally acting to block said port means.

9. In a valve assembly, thecombination of a selectively operable valve element adapted to divert a fluid from an inlet tube to alternative outlets, said valve element having a port leading to atmosphere, an auxiliary valve carried on said element and normally maintained by pressure of the fluid, said auxiliary valve being adapted to seat on the end of said inlet tube upon failure of fluid pressure whereby reverse iiow of uid through said inlet tube is prevented.

10. In a valve assembly, the combination of a uid inlet tube and a iiuid outlet, a selectively operable valve element interposed between the inlet and the outlet and adapted to regulate flow of fluid therethrough, said valve element having a port leading to atmosphere, an auxiliary valve carried on said element and normally maintained in a position to close said port by pressure of the uid owing from the inlet tube to the outlet, said auxiliary valve being adapted to seat on the end of said inlet tube upon failure offluid pressure whereby reverse ow of fluid from the outlet to the inlet tube is prevented.

JOSEPH G. DONALDSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Paul Oct. 22, 1901 Number 

